UPDATE: 3 Dead, Dozens Injured from Overnight Storms in Missouri

BRANSON, Mo. (KMOX) – Gov. Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency as a line of possible tornadoes moved across the Midwest Wednesday morning. At least three people have been confirmed dead in Missouri from those storms.

One death happened when a possible tornado hit a mobile home park in southwest Missouri, south of Buffalo, said Lt. Dana Eagan of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Another 13 people at the trailer park were injured, she said.

Other hard-hit were areas in southwest Missouri were Lebanon and the popular tourist town of Branson. A spokeswoman for Skaggs Regional Medical Center in Branson says 33 people have been treated for minor cuts and bruises.

Branson tourism officials were putting a positive spin on conditions Wednesday, saying most of the damage from a tornado was cosmetic and wouldn’t prevent most shows from going on.

Branson Area Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Mary Jane Rice says February is generally a slow time, and most of the big-name entertainers generally don’t get there until later in the spring.

Much of the damage she had seen involved broken windows and destroyed awnings and neon signs. She estimated most of the destruction would be cleaned up within a few days.
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